Resources center: Manalo & White (Library)
Manalo & White, an award-winning architecture practice based in London, is renowned for its cohesive, diverse, and talented design team. The practice's work is characterized by a balance of practicality and playfulness, with an emphasis on material and color choices that create engaging spaces.
One of the key elements that significantly contributes to Manalo & White's work is their materials library. This multifunctional, experiential space occupies around half of the office and serves as a hands-on resource for design development. It allows the team to engage directly with physical materials such as softwood timber, fabrics, and color samples, initiating projects through material pulls that align design concepts with context.
The library's eclectic and color-organized collection improves design creativity and cost-efficiency, particularly evident in large-scale projects like student accommodations. The practice often uses materials like brick and exposed timber elements that are honest about what they are, and they look for contextual materials that serve as a hook for the design concept.
Manalo & White also works closely with manufacturers to develop bespoke items using both humble and higher-end materials. For instance, they collaborated with New Terracotta to produce bespoke-glazed tiles for a DJ desk in the Mandrake Hotel, and with Solus Ceramics to explore the use of Spolia, an innovative UK-made terrazzo that can incorporate project-specific waste into a bespoke tile.
The practice's commitment to creating purposeful and inclusive architecture is evident in their approach to material selection. They prioritize robust materials that age well and do not require constant maintenance, and they work with manufacturers to make design efficiencies and improve the usability of the modules in student accommodation projects.
Moreover, Manalo & White is particular about the temperature of the luminaires in the materials library to give the most accurate color rendering of the materials. This attention to detail reflects their unwavering commitment to creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also functional.
In addition to their work with materials, Manalo & White also places a strong emphasis on inclusivity. Aoibhín McGinley collaborates with the DisOrdinary Architecture Project on various schemes, inviting artists with disabilities to provide personal engagement on inclusivity. This commitment is also reflected in projects like the East End Women's Museum refurbishment, led by Lauren Li Porter and Aoibhín McGinley, which aimed to create a welcoming space using materials that felt less institutional and more like domestic spaces.
The practice approaches material selection with a sense of humor, but without ever being cartoon-like. This balance is evident in projects like the Frân Wen performing arts centre, where they worked with a local sound artist to develop an aural wayfinding strategy for the building, inspired by the building's church organ.
In conclusion, Manalo & White's materials library significantly contributes to the practice’s work and work-life by serving as a multifunctional, experiential space that supports both daily practical needs and special events. Its prominent placement in the office fosters a welcoming atmosphere for clients and visitors, highlighting the practice's identity and making the materials library a central hub of interaction and inspiration.
- Manalo & White's lifestyle choices often reflect in their work, as they prioritize materials that age well and do not require constant maintenance, demonstrating a sustainable approach to interior-design.
- The practice believes in the power of relationships and inclusivity, collaborating with artists with disabilities, and working on projects aimed at creating welcoming spaces for diverse communities, like the East End Women's Museum refurbishment.
- The environment plays a significant role in Manalo & White's work, as evidenced in their material selection process, which emphasizes contextual materials and collaboration with manufacturers to develop eco-friendly products, such as the Spolia terrazzo tiles by Solus Ceramics.
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